New Brunswick Film - Programs and Incentives

This document is based on information from New Brunswick Film's Web site, February 2008.

New Brunswick Film  is the Province of New Brunswick agency responsible for promoting and supporting the development of an economically viable and vibrant film and television production industry.

Eligibility Criteria

Film production companies, film producers.

Summary

Incentives and Programs:

New Brunswick Film Tax Credit
In order to encourage the training and hiring of New Brunswick film personnel, the Province is providing a Film Tax Credit equal to a maximum of 40% of eligible salaries paid to New Brunswick residents. Wages in excess of 50% of the total costs of production are not eligible for consideration. The value of this credit may also be included as part of the calculation of a production company's equity in a production.

Development Loan Program
The Development Loan Program was intended to provide non-interest-bearing loans to eligible film production companies in order to assist project development. These loans serve as a complement or a supplement to the other resources available to New Brunswick-based film production companies.

Equity Investments
In order to support New Brunswick-based production, New Brunswick Film may provide equity investment in projects where the potential of recoupment and profits are sufficiently high, and where there is potential for significant benefit to the province's film industry.

Promotional Travel Assistance
New Brunswick Film may provide financial assistance to New Brunswick resident producers travelling to significant festivals and film-related events to which they have been officially invited or selected for screening and/or competition in and outside New Brunswick.

Short Film Venture Program
The Short Film Venture Program allows individuals to express their creativity in the visual format of short films. An eligible applicant must be a resident of New Brunswick as of the last day of the immediately preceding taxation year (December 31). Applicants must submit a proposal by March 15 of each year, outlining their short film concept. Successful projects will be selected, and winners will be notified by April 15 of each year. The final film must be completed by February 28 of the following year.

Those chosen for the program will receive a grant of 25%, of the total cost of the project, up to a maximum of $5,000. Winners will have a chance to train with some of New Brunswick’s industry professionals. The winning productions will be given a showcase with a premier screening at a film festival in New Brunswick.

Harmonized Sales Tax (HST)
The 13% Harmonized Sales Tax* (HST) is a value-added tax which applies to virtually all goods and services acquired in New Brunswick for use in film production, other than employee payroll and basic groceries.

*Effective January 1st, 2008, the rate of the GST has been reduced from 6% to 5% and the rate of the HST, from 14% to 13%.

A production company which does not normally carry on business in Canada is entitled to recover the HST or GST paid on property that is exported from Canada and on other goods and services acquired for consumption or use exclusively in the production of copyright-protected work. Storage and shipping costs are not eligible, and all copies of the work must be exported.

Location Scouting
New Brunswick Film staff is available to provide advice and information on shooting locations in New Brunswick. Assistance is available by contacting the New Brunswick Film office directly and on the Internet from the New Brunswick Film Web site using the NB Images and the on-line location scouting facility.

Consultation
New Brunswick Film staff is available to advise on all matters relating to film production and co-production guidelines and resources (e.g., liability, completion bonds), tax issues, contracts as they pertain to New Brunswick.

For more information on New Brunswick Film programs and incentives, call 506-869-6868 or visit the Web site: http://www.nbfilm.ca/home/intro.asp?language=e.

New Brunswick Contact(s):
NB Film
Business New Brunswick
16th Floor
770 Main St.
P. O. Box 5001
Moncton, New Brunswick  E1C 1E7
Telephone: 506-869-6868
Fax: 506-869-6840